Modular docking and utility system



4 Sheets-sheet 1 ANDREW M. FLAK `BY AW g-M ATTCPNEY A. M. FILAK MODULAR DOCKING AND rUlILI'lY SYSTEM June 29, 1965 Filed July 10, 1965 June 29, 1965 A. M. FILAK 'A 3,191,565 i MODULAR nocxING AND UTILITY SYSTEM Filed July 10, 1965 4 Sheets-SheetI v2 FIGB FIGFJA F|G5B 20 22a 2e ,we

INVENTOR ANDREW M. FILAK ATTORNEY June 29, 1965 A. M. FILAK MODULAR DOCKING AND UTILITY SYSTEM 4 sheets-smet s Filed July 10, 1963 FILAK INVENTOR.

ANDREW MQW ATTORNEY June 29, 1965 A. M. FILAK MODULAR DOCKING AND UTILITY SYSTEM Filed July l0, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 SQL INVENTOR- ANDREW ,M. FILM ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,191,565 MODULAR DOCKING AND UTILITY SYSTEM Andrew M. Filak, 4105 Admirable Drive, Portuguese Bend, Calif. Filed July 10, 1963, Ser. No. 294,074 12 Claims. (Cl. 114-5) The present invention relates generally tothe field of marine structures, and more particularly to a lightweight modular docking and utility system that may be assembled in any desired configuration and easily placed on or removed from a body of water without the use of heavy equipment.

In the past, many docking systems have been devised and installed for the purpose of mooring pleasure boats thereto. However, in the main, these systems have suffered from one or more disadvantages in that they are unduly expensive to fabricate, are so heavy they must be fabricated at the job site, require the use of heavy floating equipment for the installation thereof, require an excessive amount of labor in the assembly thereof, and

are not adapted to be easily removed from bodies of water subjected to severe icing conditions.

A major object of the present invention is to provide a modular docking and utility system which substantially eliminates the disadvantages mentioned above, and one which provides a lightweight, portable floating system having a high degree of stability.

Another object of the present invention is to supply a modular docking system which due to the light weight thereof minimizes the number of piles necessary to hold it in place, can be easily installed by a limited number of workmen by use of simple hand tools, and a system that requires no cranes or other heavy equipment for the installation or removal thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a modular docking and utility system, the components of which can be fabricated at a geographical location far removed from the installation site, and one embodying components which are sufficiently compact and light in weight to permit the economical shipment thereof in a disassembled condition or as sub-assemblies to the job site.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a number of walkway defining units of such size and configuration that they may be assembled to provide a floating dock system of any desired pattern within onefoot increments.

Yet another object of the invention is to supply a modular docking system in which a sequence of walkway defining units are resiliently held together in a predetermined pattern by post-tensioned cables, with the units having free floating shear pins associated therewith through which the cables pass, which shear pins are adjustable to permit longitudinally and transversely eX- tending cables to pass one above the other as necessary during assembly of the system.

Another object of the invention is to provide a modular docking system adapted for use in areas wherein floating docks heretofore have not been feasible to` install because of the icing conditions encountered during winter months, due to the ease with which the present docking system may be removed from the water.

A further object iof the invention is to provide a modular docking system that is susceptible of nancing for marina installations where the ysystem is regarded as personal property, for if a borrower defaults on his contract, it is possible for the lender to readily repossess the docking system at but a relatively small percentage of its value, which is impossible with marina docking systems available heretofore.

ice

Another object of the invention is to free the producer of the modular units of the present docking system from merely serving a relatively small geographical area as many manufacturers of prior docking units are so restricted, for it is possible for the producer to ship such units as those of the present invention throughout a wide territory due to the compactuess and light weight thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a docking system wherein the stresses created therein by wind and wavel action are minimized due to the lightness of the assembled structure.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description thereof, and from the accompanying drawings illustrating the same, in which:

FIGURE l is a top plan view of a portion of a floating dock structure embodying the present modular docking system;

FIGURE 2 is a'fragmentary vertical, cross-sectional view of a portion of the docking system, taken on the line 2 2 of FIGURE 1, showing a resilient bumper strip that may be removably attached to an outer edge thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical, cross-sectional view of a portion of the modular docking system taken on the line 3 3 of FIGURE l;

\ FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical, cross-sectional view of a hanger removably supported between two of the modular units;

FIGURES 5a, 5b and 5c are top plan views of three lmodular units used in assembling the docking system shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is an end elevational view of two of the modular units in side-by-side relationship, taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical, crosssectional view of a first means for holding one of the cables in a post-tensioned condition;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical crosssectional view of a second means for holding one of the cables in a post-tensioned condition;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the walkway surface;

FIGURE 10 is a side elevational view of a portion of one of the ngers of the modular docking system, taken on the line 10-10 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE ll is a side elevational view of one of the cleats removably installed on one of the modular units;

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged top plan view of one of the dock boxes shown in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary Vertical, cross-sectional view of one of the dock boxes, taken on the line 1313 of FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of one of the dock boxes, taken on the line 14-14 of FIGURE 12;

FIGURE l5 is a front elevational view of one of the cable engaging pins.

Referring now to the drawings for the general arrangement of the invention, a portion of a modular docking system is shown in FIGURE 1 which defines a horizontal load-bearing surface that serves as a Walkway.

The docking system is fabricated by assembling three modular units A, =B and C, which are shown in top plan view in FIGURES 5a, 5b and 5c, respectively. Units A, B and C are not limited to assembly in the particular configuration shown in FIGURE l, but may be arranged in any desired pattern. Unit A is preferably square, and has two end pieces 20 and side pieces 22. Unit B is rectangular, and has two end pieces 24 and two side piecesV 26. Side pieces 26 are substantially the same length as the end pieces 20. Unit C is in the shape of a right triangle, having two side pieces 2S and 3i) and Ybecome apparent.

a hypotenuse 32. rl`he length of `side pieces 28 and 30 is substantially the same as that of end pieces 20 and side pieces 26.

The unit A has an elongate longitudinally extending reinforcing member 20a such as an I-beam, channel, or the like, disposed within the confines thereof and extending between the end pieces 10. Member 20a is connected to substantially the centers of the two end pieces 20. Two transversely alignedv reinforcing members 22a are also situated inside the unit A and the other ends thereof` are rigidly connected to the interior surface-s of the side pieces 22. The inner ends of members 22a are rigidly connected Vto member 20a. The connection of members 20a and 22a to end pieces 20 and side pieces 22, as well as to one another, is by welding, brazing, or the like, or by the use of conventional fasteners. The

.Width of the reinforcing members 20a and 22a shown in FIGURE a is exaggerated relative to the overall dimensions of the modular unit A. The distance between one of the end pieces 20 and each of the reinforcing members 22a of unit B is less than one-half the length of the lunit for reasons to be hereinafter explained.

Unit B is provided with a reinforcing member 24a extending longitudinally between the end pieces 24, and two centrally disposed reinforcing members 26a extending between the side pieces 26. Reinforcing member 24a in each unit B is spaced from the side piece 26 most adjacent thereto, the same distance the reinforcing members 22a in unit A are spaced from the end piece 20 most adjacent thereto, for reasons that will hereinafter The members 24a and 26a can be I beams, channels, or the like, and are affixed to the end pieces `24 and side pieces 26 in the same manner as the reinforcing members in unit A.

Modular unit C also has two reinforcing members 28a and 30a disposed therein, as shown in FIGURE 5c, which are in right-angled relationship. The outer ends of reinforcing member 28a and 30a are rigidly connected to ,the sides 28 and 30 thereof, and hypotenuse 32 by welding, brazing, or the like, or by the use of conventional fasteners. Member 30a is spaced from side 28 by the vsame distance as that of reinforcing member 24a from side 26 most adjacent thereto, and reinforcing member 28a is centrally disposed relative to side 28 and normal thereto. l

The modular units A, B and C can, of course, be of any desired size. In practice, it has been found convenient for each end piece 20 and side piece 22 of unit A to be 4'0". Unit B preferably has end pieces 24 that are 3'0" in width, and side pieces 26 40 in length, and the sides 28 and 30 of unit C are 4'0 long. Reinforcing members 22a Vare spaced from end piece 120 most adjacent thereto in unit A by a distance of 10". The same 1'0" spacing separates the reinforcing member 24a from the side piece 26 most adjacent thereto in unit B. Reinforcing member 30a is spaced from side piece 28 in unit C by a distance of 10".

Due to the relative difference in size of the modular units A, B and C'above described, they may be arranged to provide a dock portion D as shown in FIGURE 1 of any desired width above 6'0" in one foot increments. The dock portion D can have any number of fingers E-l, E-2 projecting outwardly therefrom. Each of the fingers E can be of any desired width above 30 in one foot increments. Y

In FIGURE 1 it will be seen that the dock portion D is 80 in width, as two of the units A are disposed sideby-side, with their adjoining side pieces 22 in abutting contact. Should it be desired to provide a dock portion D 6'0 wide, two of the unit-s B would be used, with the side pieces 26 in abutting contact. A dock portion D 7'0" wide is easily attainable by using a unit A, with a side piece 22 thereof in abutting contact with a side piece 26 of a unit B.

The width of each finger E-l or E-2 can be either 3'0" or 4'0", depending on whether units A or B are used to fabricate the same, or 6'0" and one foot increments thereabove, if the units A and B are disposed in side-by-side relationship, as described in connection with the dock portion D. In FIGURE 1 it will be seen that the finger E-l is fabricated from units A and is 4'0" in width. The two fingers E-Z in the same figure are fabricated from units B, the end pieces 24 of which are in abutting contact, and these fingers accordingly are 3'0 wide. When units A, B and C are assembled to define a docking system, they are removably held together by a number of resilient cables Z (FIGURE 3), as will be described in detail hereinafter.

'Each of the modular units A, B and C includes a horizontally disposed frame F, which is of the same depth for each of the units and is conveniently fabricated from either a rolled or extruded metal section of a material such as aluminum or an alloy thereof, or other desired rigid material. Alternate frames F of the modular unit-s A and B, as may best be seen in FIGURE 10, are supported on buoyant bodies YG that preferably are in the form of open-topped hollow shells.

The frames F vary in shape; that used in modular unit A is square, while that employed in unit B is rectangular. Modular unit C has a frame F that is triangular. Irrespective of the shape thereof, each frame F includes a liat horizontal upper flange 34 that has a first wall member 36 of substantial depth extending downwardly from the lower surface thereof. The lower end of wall member 36 is rigidly connected to the upper surface of the uppermost one of a number -of vertically spaced strips 38 that are horizontally disposed.

The inner end of each alternate pair of strips 38, starting with the uppermost strip, is connected by vertically r extending second wall members 40. Each alternate pair of strips 3S not connected on their inner ends by wall 'members 40 are connected on their outer ends by second wall members 40.

The outer edge of upper ange 34 has a first tab 42 depending therefrom that is in vertical alignment with a second tab 44 which projects upwardly 'from the outer edge of the uppermost one of the strips 38. Tabs 42 and 44 are in vertical alignment with the outwardly disposed second wall members 40. Tabs 42 and 44 are outwardly disposed from first wall member 36 and cooperate therewith to define a partially enclosed space 46. A first rib 48 projects upwardly from the outer edge of upper liange 34, and is in vertical alignment with first tab 42.

A lower horizontal flange 50 is provided that extends inwardly from the lower edge of the lowermost wall member 40, as may best be seen in FIGURE 3. Flange 50 has a second rib S2 that isvertically disposed and depends downwardly vfr-om the outer edge thereof in vertical alignment with the first rib 48. The strips 38, together with the inwardly disposed second wall members 40, cooperatively define a number of vertically spaced recesses 54 which extend circumferentially around the frame F. Protuberances 56 are provided on the outer portions of strips 38, that are so disposed that they extend into the cavities 54, for purposes to be later explained.

Each frame F is provided with an upper deck H of such shape as to rest on the upper surface of flange 34 within the confines of first rib 48. Deck H is preferably fabricated from plywood 58, on the upper surface of which a cast layer 60 of a polymerized resin impregnated with silica flour is press-molded. The outer edges of each deck H are snugly engaged by the first ribs 48 of the particular frame F on which the deck is mounted. A number of stainless steel screws, bolts, or other fastening means 62 are provided that extend downwardly through outer portions of the deck, as may best be seen in FIGURE 3, to engage upper flange 34 and rigidly hold the deck in position thereon.

. The upper surface of layer 60 is preferably formed in the configuration of the tread 63 (FIGURE 9). A1-

though an upper deck H of the above described structure is desirable, a concrete slab, wood planking, an aluminum tread, or other walking surface material may be used for the upper deck if desired. When an upper deck H is attached to each frame F in the manner described, it constitutes a first subassembly, and in that state may .be yshipped from the source of manufacture to the job site.

A lower deck I is provided that is preferably formed from plywood, but without the anti-slip layer 60 being applied thereto. Deck J is of such size as to abut against the bottom surface of lower ange 56, and iit snugly within the contines of second rib 52, as best illustrated in FIGURE 3, and is removably connected to one of the frames F by a number -of stainless steel screws, bolts or other fasteners 64 that extend through the deckand engage one of the lower ianges 5t).

The buoyant body G preferably comprises a hollow shell that is open at the top, and is formed from a resin impregnated fiberglass. The shell is of catamaran construction, deiined by two inverted, generally U-shaped end pieces 66 having two outer edges 63 that taper downwardly and inwardly to develop into two laterally horizontal bottom edges 70. The inner ends of edges 70 develop into two upwardly and inwardly tapering edges 72 which at their top are connected by a horizontal edge 74. The edges of the end pieces 68 above described are connected by a continuous sheet of material 76 that is molded or otherwise formed to have exterior surfaces that are parallel to the edges 68, 70, 72 and 74. End pieces 66 have a number of transversely spaced, vertically extending recesses 78 formed therein for reinforcing purposes, and the sheet 76 also has longitudinally spaced recesses 80 therein that extend upwardly. Recesses 80 serve the same reinforcing purpose as recesses 7S.

A horizontal fiange $2 extends outwardly from the upper edges of end pieces 66 and sheet 76. The overall width and length of iiange S2 is less than'the same overall dimensions of the lower deck I so that ilange 82 will not overlie the fasteners 64 shown in FIGURE 3. Flange 82 is, by a layer of adhesive S4 such as an epoxy cement, or the like, bonded to the under surface of lower deck I. The buoyant body G and the deck I permanently attached thereto as above described, form a second sub-assembly that may be shipped as such from the source of manufacture to the job site.

When the buoyant tbody G is of the catamaran construction above described, it is far more stable when floating on a body of water than a square or rectangular float, for when the catamaran body is subjected to a transversely olf-centered load it does not tend to pivot about its longitudinal center line.

When the units A, B and C are assembled as shown in FIGURE 1, the adjoining ends and sides thereof are separated by resilient pads K, as may best be seen in FIGURE 3. Each pad K is formed with a number of longitudinally extending projections 76 that are of substantially the same width as the height of one of the cavities 54. The projections 76 are so transversely spaced from one-another that they may be deformed and removably inserted by the application of force into the cavities 54. When the projections 76 are so inserted in cavities 54, they are gripped by the protuberances 56, and the pad is removably supported from the frame F. In assembling the iloat units, one of the pads K may be removably aiiixed to a single frame F without an adjoining frame being in contact with the pad.

Each frame F has two transversely spaced openings S6 formed in each end thereof. Openings 86, as may best be seen in FIGURES 3, 7 and 8, are formed in the outer second wall member 46, which is centered relative to the upper flange 34 and lower flange 50. In modular unit A the openings 86 would be in those portions of frame F that deiine end pieces 2i). Modular unit B would have the openings 86 formed in the portions of frame F defining end pieces 24. The modular unit C would have the openings 86 formed in the sides 28 and a-I, and hypotenuse 32.

Openings 86 are formed in the outer portions of the second Wall members 40 in end pieces 20 of unit A and end pieces 24 of unit B to permit cables Z to extend longitudinally through the units without the necessity of forming openings in reinforcing members 22a and 26a thereof. Each opening 86 is square, rectangular or of a symmetrical shape other than circular.

A number of rigid pins 83 are provided that have the same transverse cross-sectional configuration as openings 136 and are slidably insertable therein. Each pin 88, due to its shape, can occupy a first position in an opening 86, and when removed from the opening and rotated 180, can be reinserted therein to occupy a second position. Each pin has a longitudinally extending bore 90 formed therein that is suiciently off-centered from the longitudinal axis of the pin that when cable Z extends through the bore and the pin 88 is in the second position, the cable will be disposed either above or below a transversely positioned cable which connects the units together. Each of the pins 38 is free-floating on the cable Z that passes therethrough. Each of the pins S8 (FIGURE 15) includes a centrally disposed, outwardly extending ring 92 of greater external diameter than the largest cross-sectional dimension of an opening 86 to prevent the pin 88 from sliding longitudinally on cable Z into the contines of one of the units.

The modular units A defining finger E-l, and the units B that form the fingers E-Z are but one unit wide, whereby they may be resiliently heldin this configuration by longitudinally extending cables Z, alone. The units A dening the dock portion D are not only in longitudinal alignment, but in transverse alignment as well. Accordingly, the frames F of units A in dock portion D must have openings 86 formed 4in the side pieces 22 thereof to accommodate transversely extending cables Z. The transverse positioning of cables Z in the side pieces 22 of units A is the same as that previously described in connection with the longitudinally extending cables. The adjoining side pieces 22 are separated by resilient pads K in the same manner as shown in FIGURE 3. Those portions of the pads Kin alignment with the openings S6 have openings `85a formed therein of sufficiently large cross section as to accommodate the rings 92.

After assembly of the modular units to define a dock as shown in FIGURE 1, the cables Z, by use of existing equipment adapted for this purpose are post-tensioned and the ends of the cables thereafter held in fixed position relative to the units by a conventional tapered fastener 96, as shown in FIGURE 7, or a ball type fastener 98 as illustrated in FIGURE 8. Fastener 96bears against a plate 100 that is in abutting contact with frame F to distribute the load over a Wider area on the frame. Ball 9S is in abutting contact with a plug 162 which is insertable in ya iixed position in an opening in frame F. The transverse positioning lof a post-tensioned cable Z is shown in FGURE 6.

The modular units C (FIGURE 1), are in pressure contact with units A and B, and are held in this position by post-tensioned cables Z which not only extend through the units C, but the units A and B as well. When units A, B and C are arranged as shown in FIGURE 1, and the cables Z post-tensioned, the units are drawn together to exert :a substantial compressive force one upon the other. To avoid unnecessary detail, the reinforcing members of units A, B and C are shown as single dotted lines in FIGURE 1.

Due to off-centered positioning of certain of the reinforcing members as previously described, it will be seen that in the finger E-Z shown in the upper left-hand portion of FIGURE 1 the compressive forces on the units B are transmitted to the reinforcing members 22a and 20a of units A which form a part of the dock portion D. The compressive forces in the reinforcing members 24a of the units B that define this finger E2 are transmitted to an end piece 20 and side piece 22 of two units A in dock portion D.

In the other of the fingers E-Z shown in FIGURE l, the compressive forces in the side pieces 26 of units B are transmitted to the end pieces 26 of units A and the reinforcing members 22a thereof. The compressive forces in reinforcing members 24a of units B are transmitted to the side piece 22 of one of units A forming dock portion D. The compressive forces in end piece 26 of units A in finger E-1 are transmitted to end pieces 20 of the units A in dock portion D. The compressive forces in reinforcing members 22a of units A in finger E1 are also transmitted to reinforcing members 22a in the units A. that define dock portion D.

' In most installations it will be desirable to provide electric illumination, electric power, and a supply of water on a dock. These conveniences may be supplied from a triangular dock box 1114 which may be supported on one of the units C (FIGURE 1). The dock box 104 is a hollow, generally triangular shell formed from resin impregnated fiberglass, or other material that is substantially Vfree from corrosion when exposed to moisture and salt water. The shell has a top 106 and bottom 108 that are joined by a continuous, vertically extending side wall 110 having two spaced recesses 112 and 114 formed therein. Recess 112 cooperates with an L-shaped plate 116 to define an enclosed space 118, and a second L-shaped plate 120 cooperates with recess 114 to define a second enclosed space 122. Plates 116 and 120 are held on side wall 11), :as shown in FIGURES 13 and 14, by rivets, or the like.

y A water faucet 124 projects from plate 116, and is connected to a pipe 126 that extends downwardly through space 118 and then out the bottom 1118 to connect to a supply line 128 which may be supported between either the end pieces or side pieces of the units A or B as shown in FIGURE 4. The bottom 108 and a plate 1119 thereabove, together with partitions 111, serve to deiine a Y- shaped channel 113 through which the water line 128 and electrical conductors can be extended prior to passing from the dock box 104.

The l-ine 1,28 may be supported between any two adjoining frames F by a hanger 130. Hanger 136 comprises .a pipe-supporting portion that can be two semi-circular bands 134 and 136 which are removably fastened together by bol-ts 138, or the like. A rod 14) extends up from band 136,-to an elongate clip 142 that has two transversely spaced pairs lof 4indentations 144 formed therein. Clip 142 is formed of a resilient material and is of such depth that it must be deformed to permit insertion of a portion thereof into one of the cavities 54. When clip 142 is so deformed and an end portion thereof is inserted in a cavity 54, the protuberances 56 associated with that particular cavity engage indentations 144 and removably support the hanger 130 from one of the frames F. Hanger 150 may be supported from a frame F when only one side of the hanger is disposed in a cavity S4. When two frames F are adjoining, the end portions of clip 142 will be in oppositely -disposed cavities.

The plate 120 in each dock box 104 supports a dock light 146, reset switch 148, and a -power receptacle 1511. An insulated electrica-l cable i152 extends from these cornponents and out the bottom of dock box 106 to be supported between the frames F, as shown in FIGURE 3, in a split ring i154. Each ring 154 when not deformed has an external diameter greater than the vertical spacing between the adjoining ends of a pair of protuberances 56. When one of the rings 154 is inserted in a cavity 54 (FIGURE 3), the ring expands therein, and removably supports the cable 152 from the frame F.

`Cleats 156 of a conventional design can be secured to the dock structure by extending a bolt 158 downwardly .through a vertical bore 160 formed therein. Bolt 158 extends downwardly through vertically aligned bores 162 formed in upper deck H, upper ange, and the uppermost 8 strip 3S. A nut 164 is tightened to bring it to bear against the lower surface of the uppermost strip 38 and rigidly support the clea-t156 on the frame F.

The hulls of boats (not shown) must, of course, be prevented from coming into forceful contact with the dock structure. To that end, a resilient bumper strip 171B is provided that may be removably aiiixed to the outer edge portions of the frames F, as may best be seen in FIGURES 1 and 2. The bumper strip 170 is formed from rubber, plastic, or other resilient material that i-s not adversely affected by strong sunlight and damp air, and is preferably extruded, comprising two side walls 172 which taper .towards one another and which meet at an apex 174. The inner ends of the side walls 172 are connected by a vertically extending back 1176. A short neck 178 projects from back 176 to support a head 181) which has a vertical cross-sectional dimension that is greater than the vertical spacing between two of the tabs or protuberances 42 and 44.

When it is desired to mount the bumper strip on the outer portion of one of the frames F, the head 180 is deformed, and in this condition pushed between the tabs or protuberances `42 and 44 into the confines of one 4of the cavities 46. The hea-d 180 expands in the cavity 46 and removably holds the bumper strip 170cm a frame F, as shown in FIGURE 2.

It will be particularly noted that only each alternate unit A or B is supper-ted by a buoyant body G, and this body extends upwardly only to the lower surface of the frame F. In previously available dock structures using buoyant bodies to support a deck or walkway surface, these buoyant bodies have been of such height as to extend lto the under surface of the deck. Thus, by the present construction, a material saving is effected in the cost of the buoyant bodies.

The use of the modular dock and utility system of the present invention will be obvious from the description thereof `contained herein, and accordingly, its use and operation need not be repeated.

The dock shown in FIGURE 1 is maintained in a stationary horizontal position on a body of water by pile keeps X which are affixed to a desired one of the modular units to engage piles Y. One such pile keep X is shown on one of the units C in FIGURE l. The pile keeps X permit Vertical movement of the dock shown in FIGURE 1 as the tide changes, or the dock is subject to wave action.

In the fabrication of the frames F for the portions of the dock structure E41 and E-Z, it is desirable that the openings `86 for the pins `88 be 4spaced outwardly from -the longitudinal center line of the assembled uni-ts A and B respectively, as far as possible, for the tensional cables Z to lend maximum stability to the structures E-l and E-Z.

Although the present invention is fully capable of achieving the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore mentioned, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment thereof, and I do not mean to be limited to the details of construction herein shown and described, other than as deiined in the appended claims.

I claim:

'1. A first portable float unit that can be assembled on site from a plurality of lightweight, shippable sub-assemblies and held in a substantially fixed position relative to a second of said float units that is assembled by elongate resilient fastening members to provide a horizontal loadbearing surface, which iirst unit includes:

(a) a rectangular frame of substantial depth that is defined by two side pieces-and two end pieces, with each of said end pieces having two transversely spaced first -openings formed therein that are in longitudinal alignment with similar openings formed in the other of said end pieces;

(b) transversely and longitudinally extending reinforcing beams in said frame which are so disposed that one at least thereof can be coaxially aligned with either an edge portion of said second unit or one of said beams therein when said first and second units are adjacently disposed;

(c) a rst rectangular rigid sheet;

(d) first means for removably connecting said sheet to the upper edge portions of said end pieces and -side pieces, which frame, beams and sheet when connected by said first means comprises la rst subassembly;

(e) abuoyant body;

(f) a second rectangular rigid sheet;

(g) second means for rigidly c-onnecting the upper portion of said body to a lower surface of said second sheet;

(h) .third means for removably connecting said second sheet to the lower edge portions of said end pieces and side pieces,which body and second sheet when connected by said second means comprises a second sub-assembly;

(i) a resilient pad disposed between the adjoining sides of said frames in said first and second fioat units; (j) two tensioned elongate resilient members that extend through said openings in said frames of said first and second units;

(k) fourth means for maintaining tension on said members for said fra-mes of said first and second units to at all times exert a compressive force on said pad, with said pad and said tensioned members cooperatively permitting transverse and vertical fiexing of said first and second units one relative to the other; and

(l) two rigid pins that have longitudinally extending bores formed therein through which said resilient members extend, with said pins extending through said openings in said frames and those openings in said pad that are in alignment therewith, which pins are loosely mounted in said openings lto permit limited flexing of said units one relative to the other, bu-t prevent any substantial transverse movement of said units relative t-o one another.

2. A first unit as defined in claim 1 wherein each side piece and end piece of said frame has a plurality of horizontal corruga-tions formed therein that are defined by:

(a) a vertically disposed rectangular first wall member, with its longitudinal axis horizontally positioned;

(b) an upper horizontal flange connected to the upper end of said wall member;

(c) a plurality of horizont-al vertically spaced strips,

with the lower edge of said wall member being connected to the upper surface of the uppermost one -of said strips at a position ,intermediate the outer and inner longitudinal edges thereof;

(d) a plurality of elongate second wall members that alternately connect inner and outer pairs of longitudinally extending edges of said strips; and

(e) a lower horizontal flange connected to the lower longitudinal edge of the lowermost of said second wall members, with said lower flange being in abutting contact with the upper surface of said second sheet.

3. A first unit as defined in `cl-aim 2 which further includes:

(a) first and second longitudinally extending tabs that are substantially in vertical alignment and project downwardly from the outer edge of said first flange and the outer edge of the uppermost of said strips, with said tabs being positioned outwardly a substantial dis-tance from said wall member; and

(b) a bumper strip that is removably engageable by said tabs to be supported from said frame.

4. A first unit as defined in claim Z which fur-ther includes:

(a) .a plurality of pairs of protuberances, with the protuberances in each of said pairs projecting towards one another from adjacent surfaces of said strips, each of which pairs of protuberances is disposed outwardly a substantial distance from one of said second wall members; and

(b) means on said pad for removably engaging said protuberances for supporting said pad from one of said frames.

5. A first unit as defined in claim 2 wherein said buoyant body is a hollow shell that is defined by a bottom, four side walls extending upwardly from said bottom, and a third flange connected to the upper edges of said side walls, and said third flange being in abutting contact with the lower surface of said second sheet and rigidly connected thereto.

`6. A first unit as defined in claim 2 wherein said buoyant body is a hollow shell that is -of .catamaran construction, which shell includes a thi-rd fiange that projects from the upper edge por-tions thereof in a horizontal plane, with said .third flange being in abutting contact with the lower surface of said second sheet and rigidly connected thereto.

7. A first unit as defined in claim 4 wherein said pad includes a projecting portion that removably engages one of said pair of protuberances on said frame to support said pad in a vertically extending position on said first unit.

' 8. A first unit as defined in claim 4 that is capable of supporting one or more utility cables therefrom, which unit further includes:

(a) a split ring of a resilient material which when not deformed hars an external diameter greater than the vertical spacing between two of said protuberances that define one pair thereof, with `said ring being `capable of being deformed to be placed in a spa defined by two of said strips, one of said second wall members, and a pair of said protuberances, which ring when in said space and not subjected to a deforming force expands to be removably held therein, and support one or more of said cables in said space that extend through said ring.

9. A first unit as defined in claim 4 that is capable of supporting a fluid conducting pipe therefrom, which unit further includes a pipe hanger comprising: Y

(a) fifth means for removably engaging said pipe;

(b) a rod extending upwardly from said fifth means;

and

(c) a generally elliptical resilient clip that has a minor axis of greater length than the vertical distance between the ends of two of said protuberances that form one pair thereof, with said clip having two vertically aligned indentations formed therein that removably engage said pair of protuberances when said member is deformed to extend therebetween, and said clip having the upper end of said rod afiixed to a lower portion thereof, which clip serves to support said rod, fifth means, and a portion of the weight of said pipe that is supported in said fifth means.

10. A first unit as defined in claim 2 which further includes:

(a) a cleat having a fiat lower surface, and a bore that extends downwardly through said cleat, which bore is capable of being aligned with a sequence of vertically aligned bores in said first sheet, upper ange, and the uppermost of said strips;

(b) a bolt that extends downwardly through said bore in said cleat and said sequence of vertical bores to project below the lower su-rface of said uppermost one of said strips; and

(c) a nut that engages that portion of said bolt projecting below said strip, which nut when tightened on said bolt bears against said strip to removably hold lsaid cleat on said unit.

11. A first unit as defined in claim 4 which further include-s an elongate resilient -body that serves as a boat bumper, which body has an inwardly extending portion of greater depth than the vertical distance between two of said protuberances that define a pair thereof, which inwardly extending portion can be removably engaged by said protuberances to removably support said body on said frame of said `first unit after said inner portion expands inwardly from lsaid protuberances.

12. A first unit as defined in claim 2 in which said bores in said pins are off-centered from the longitudinal axes of said pins to permit said cables extending therethrough to pass over or under another cable by moving said pins from first positions to second positions in said openings.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Healy 248-58 Waite 248-58 Roby 248-56 Porter 248-56 Weisburg 114-219 Ong et al. 114--219 Storey 114-.5 Storey 114-.5 Usab 114-.5 Sheield 114-.5

FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, Primary Examiner. MILTON BUCHLER, Examiner. 

1. A FIRST PORTABLE FLOAT UNIT THAT CAN BE ASSEMBLED ON SITE FROM A PLURALITY OF LIGHTWEIGHT, SHIPPABLE SUB-ASSEMBLIES AND HELD IN A SUBSTANTIALLY FIXED POSITION RELATIVE TO A SECOND OF SAID FLOAT UNITS THAT IS ASSEMBLED BY ELONGATE RESILIENT FASTENING MEMBERS TO PROVIDE A HORIZONTAL LOADBEARING SURFACE, WHICH FIRST UNIT INCLUDES: (A) A RECTANGULAR FRAME OF SUBSTANTIAL DEPTH THAT IS DEFINED BY TWO SIDE PIECES AND TWO END PIECES, WITH EACH OF SAID END PIECES HAVING TWO TRANSVERSELY SPACED FIRST OPENINGS FORMED THEREIN THAT ARE IN LONGITUDINAL ALIGNMENT WITH SIMILAR OPENINGS FORMED IN THE OTHER OF SAID END PIECES; (B) TRANSVERSELY AND LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING REINFORCING BEAMS IN SAID FRAME WHICH ARE SO DISPOSED THAT ONE AT LEAST THEREOF CAN BE COAXIALLY ALIGNED WITH EITHER AN EDGE PORTION OF SAID SECOND UNIT OR ONE OF SAID BEAMS THEREIN WHEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND UNITS ARE ADJACENTLY DISPOSED; (C) A FIRST RECTANGULAR RIGID SHEET; (D) FIRST MEANS FOR REMOVABLY CONNECTING SAID SHEET TO THE UPPER EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID END PIECES AND SIDE PIECES, WHICH FRAME, BEAMS AND SHEET WHEN CONNECTED BY SAID FIRST MEANS COMPRISES A FIRST SUBASSEMBLY; (E) A BUOYANT BODY; (F) A SECOND RECTANGULAR RIGID SHEET; (G) SECOND MEANS FOR RIGIDLY CONNECTING THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID BODY TO A LOWER SURFACE OF SAID SECOND SHEET; (H) THIRD MEANS FOR REMOVABLY CONNECTING SAID SECOND SHEET TO THE LOWER EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID END PIECES AND SIDE PIECES, WHICH BODY AND SECOND SHEET WHEN CONNECTED BY SAID SECOND MEANS COMPRISES A SECOND SUB-ASSEMBLY; (I) A RESILIENT PAD DISPOSED BETWEEN THE ADJOINING SIDES OF SAID FRAMES IN SAID FIRST AND SECOND FLOAT UNITS; (J) TWO TENSIONED ELONGATED RESILIENT MEMBERS THAT EXTEND THROUGH SAID OPENINGS, IN SAID FRAMES OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND UNITS; (K) FOURTH MEANS FOR MAINTAINING TENSION ON SAID MEMBERS FOR SAID FRAMES OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND UNITS TO AT ALL TIMES EXERT A COMPRESSIVE FORCE ON SAID PAS, WITH SAID PAD AND SAID TENSIONED MEMBERS COOPERATIVELY PERMITTING TRANSVERSE AND VERTICAL FLEXING OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND UNITS ONE RELATIVE TO THE OTHER; AND (1) TWO RIGID PINS THAT HAVE LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING BORES FORMED THEREIN THROUGH WHICH SAID RESILIENT MEMBERS EXTEND, WITH SAID PINS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID OPENING IN SAID FRAMES AND THOSE OPENINGS IN SAID PAD THAT ARE IN ALIGNMENT THEREWITH, WHICH PINS ARE LOOSELY MOUNTED IN SAID OPENINGS TO PERMIT LIMITED FLEXING OF SAID UNITS ONE RELATIVE TO THE OTHER, BUT PREVENT ANY SUBSTANTIAL TRANSVERSE MOVEMENT OF SAID UNITS RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER. 